Α-conotoxin peptides

Abstract

The invention relates to relatively short peptides (termed α-conotoxins herein), about 10-25 residues in length, which are naturally available in minute amounts in the venom of the cone snails or analogous to the naturally available peptides, and which preferably include two disulfide bonds. The α-conotoxins, as described herein, are useful for as neuromuscular blocking agents, such as muscle relaxants.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0002]The present application is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 09 / 488,799 filed on 21 Jan. 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,268,473 and claims benefit thereto. The present application also claims benefit under 35 USC §119(e) to U.S. provisional patent applications Ser. No. 60 / 116,881 filed on 22 Jan. 1999, Ser. No. U.S. 60 / 116,882 filed on 22 Jan. 1999, 60 / 219,407 filed on 20 Jul. 2000 and Ser. No. 60 / 221,557 filed on 28 Jul. 2000. Each of these applications is incorporated herein by reference.[0003]This invention was made with Government support under Grant No. PO1 GM48677 awarded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. and under SBIR grant No. 1 R43 GM62064-01. The United States Government has certain rights in the invention.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]The invention relates to relatively short peptides (termed α-conotoxins herein), about 10-25 residues in length,...

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Benefits of technology

[0153]This study was an open label, dose-ranging, single center investigation. A total of 14 rats were studied (10 in each of five groups). All animals were anesthetized with pentobarbital (60 mg/kg) given by intraperitoneal administration and maintained with supplemental doses as determined by physiological monitoring variables. A tracheotomy was performed and the rats were ventilated with room air keeping PCO2 near 35 torr. The carotid artery was cannulated to measure blood pressure and arterial blood gases. The right jugular vein was cannulated for intravenous infusion and further drug administration. Body temperature was maintained at 36°-38° C. during the entire experiment. The sciatic nerve was exposed in the popliteal space and stimulated with train-of-four stimulation using a Digistim nerve stimulator. The tivialis anterior muscle contractoin was measured by attaching the rat hind limb to an isometric force transducer to record the evoked response. Prior to administration of the study drug, baseline measurements of blood pressure, heart rate and muscle contraction force were measured for a five-minute period and at five minute intervals for the duration of the study.

[0154]The initial dose for analysis was based on biologically effective doses determined in mice. Based on the onset, maximum effect and duration of effect from the first animal studied, the dose for the next animal was either doubled or halved. If the relaxation level was maintained at a maximal level for greater than 20 minutes from this initial dose, then the subsequent dose studied was doubled. this progression continued until the dose that produced near maximal muscle relaxation was found.

[0155]The conopeptide derivatives MI and GI were studied in the initial study. For each compound

Problems solved by technology

However, none of these peptides show siginificant affinity for neuronal nicotinic receptors.

The long duration of action of nondepolarizing agents is unacceptable in many surgical procedures which take less than one hour because the patient is not generally filly recovered from their effects e.g., the

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